NEWS WAITAKI HERALD, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 High country date Here they come: Moorehouse is to perform with a number of other artists at a new youth fest at Locklead, Otematata over Labour weekend. See story page 8. 3 Shared vision: Ralph Davies of Coast Line Tours, middle and Rob Connolly of Vertical Ventures, right, are to share a Wansbeck St premises which Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Peter Garvan expects to benefit the region. Photo: SUPPLIED Shared premises boost for region By DANIEL BIRCHFIELD daniel.birchfield@waitakiherald.co.nz T he Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust says two local business sharing a prem- ises in the Victorian precinct will help put Waitaki on the map. A pair of Oamaru’s indepen- dent tourism operators, Coast Line Tours and Vertical Ventures, will operate out of the Wansbeck St building, formerly occupied by David Wilson’s penny farthing business. Coast Line Tours runs the Penguin Express buses in Oamaru, shuttle buses to Dunedin and the Bottom Bus tours through the Catlins. Vertical Ventures operates a variety of outdoor operations, with a growing focus on the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail (A2O). ‘‘By combining our front office and operating from a highprofile position in the precinct, we’ll be far more visible and we’re both also expecting a significant increase in visitors to the region this summer,’’ says Ralph Davies of Coast Line Tours. ‘‘We’ll be giving the building a fresh look with some new paint and signage and we’ll have a presence in a part of Oamaru that we expect to be increasingly busy this summer.’’ Rob Connolly of Vertical Ventures is also excited about the potential of the business relationship. ‘‘While we have several operations, including running outdoor activities for schools, we’re really excited about the potential for the A2O,’’ he says. ‘‘Having a base in the precinct means visitors can hire bikes and go on one-day rides out through the Oamaru to Duntroon section of the trail, rather than doing the full trail.’’ Connolly says while there is still work to be done to complete the A2O trail, it’s proving popular with cyclists. ‘‘You might be surprised to know that most of the people we take on our guided rides [on the trail] are 65 and over. ‘‘Independent riders tend to be 20 years younger ... we had an 80-year-old on a tour recently and he was a real riding machine.’’ Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Peter Garvan is welcoming the move. ‘‘David Wilson and his penny farthings were high profile and good for the image of the precinct,’’ he says. ‘‘We knew we had to find tenants to at least match that and we are confident we have.’’ Garvan says the business relationship will bring extra people and business to the precinct, while also growing tourism around Waitaki. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says the partnership shows how vital the A2O is becoming to the region. ‘‘Overall I think it really cements just how important the A2O has become already. ‘‘It’s early days yet, but the fact there are businesses taking up tenancies in prominent places like that and promoting the A2O are signs it’s doing very well ... it’s most encouraging.’’ ✓ APPROVED BY BOWLS AUSTRALIA AND BOWLS NEW ZEALAND JACKIE BOWLS ◆ Go JENNA BOWLS ◆ Good looking, AllLeather, l L ather mfortableCasuals mfortable C suals ◆ EXCELLENT FIT ◆ QUALITY LEATHERS “LOVE ME, Lo ◆ SUPERIOR COMFORT ◆ BREATHABLE INSOLE ove my shoes shoes” 79-81 Thames Street Oamaru 79-81 Thames Street, Oamaru www.mcdiarmids.co.nz EWS WAITAKI HERALD, SEPTEMBER 10 AKI HERALD, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 High country date Here they come: Moorehouse is to perform with a number of other artists at a new youth fest at Locklead, Otematata over Labour weekend. See story page 8. 3 Shared vision: Ralph Davies of Coast Line Tours, middle and Rob Connolly of Vertical Ventures, right, are to share a Wansbeck St premises which Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Peter Garvan expects to benefit the region. Photo: SUPPLIED Shared premises boost for region By DANIEL BIRCHFIELD daniel.birchfield@waitakiherald.co.nz T he Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust says two local business sharing a prem- ises in the Victorian precinct will help put Waitaki on the map. A pair of Oamaru’s indepen- dent tourism operators, Coast Line Tours and Vertical Ventures, will operate out of the Wansbeck St building, formerly occupied by David Wilson’s penny farthing business. Coast Line Tours runs the Penguin Express buses in Oamaru, shuttle buses to Dune- din and the Bottom Bus tours through the Catlins. Vertical Ventures operates a variety of outdoor operations, with a growing focus on the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail (A2O). ‘‘By combining our front office and operating from a high- profile position in the precinct, we’ll be far more visible and we’re both also expecting a sig- nificant increase in visitors to the region this summer,’’ says Ralph Davies of Coast Line Tours. ‘‘We’ll be giving the building a fresh look with some new paint and signage and we’ll have a presence in a part of Oamaru that we expect to be increasingly busy this summer.’’ Rob Connolly of Vertical Ventures is also excited about the potential of the business relationship. ‘‘While we have several operations, including running outdoor activities for schools, we’re really excited about the potential for the A2O,’’ he says. ‘‘Having a base in the precinct means visitors can hire bikes and go on one-day rides out through the Oamaru to Dun- troon section of the trail, rather than doing the full trail.’’ Connolly says while there is still work to be done to complete the A2O trail, it’s proving popu- lar with cyclists. ‘‘You might be surprised to know that most of the people we take on our guided rides [on the trail] are 65 and over. ‘‘Independent riders tend to be 20 years younger ... we had an 80-year-old on a tour recently and he was a real riding machine.’’ Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Peter Garvan is welcoming the move. ‘‘David Wilson and his penny farthings were high profile and good for the image of the pre- cinct,’’ he says. ‘‘We knew we had to find tenants to at least match that and we are confident we have.’’ Garvan says the business relationship will bring extra people and business to the pre- cinct, while also growing tour- ism around Waitaki. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says the partnership shows how vital the A2O is becoming to the region. ‘‘Overall I think it really cements just how important the A2O has become already. ‘‘It’s early days yet, but the fact there are businesses taking up tenancies in prominent places like that and promoting the A2O are signs it’s doing very well ... it’s most encouraging.’’ ✓ APPROVED BY BOWLS AUSTRALIA AND BOWLS NEW ZEALAND JACKIE BOWLS ◆ Go JENNA BOWLS ◆ Good looking, AllLeather, l L ather mfortableCasuals mfortable C suals ◆ EXCELLENT FIT ◆ QUALITY LEATHERS “LOVE ME, Lo ◆ SUPERIOR COMFORT ◆ BREATHABLE INSOLE ove my shoes shoes” 79-81 Thames Street Oamaru 79-81 Thames Street, Oamaru www.mcdiarmids.co.nz 6285065AA 6285065AA A safety message from Network Waitaki A safety message from Network Waitaki Be aware of underground cables if you are building a fence or digging a drain. Coming into contact with an underground power cable could be FATAL. 6164301AU The electricity company that Delivers power in North Otago Always think SAFETY Call Network Waitaki First on 0800 440 220 - It could save your life.